Transfer to/from - Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont airport (SDU)

Santos Dumont Airport enjoys an unbeatable location in downtown Rio de Janeiro, allowing for smooth integration with the urban transport network, especially through the modern light rail system (VLT) and mobility apps.

Ride-sharing Apps

Uber and 99 services are extremely popular and the most common way to leave the airport. Due to congestion at the terminal curb, the airport has organized a specific pick-up point.

Meeting Point (Uber Lounge):
To board your vehicle, you generally must head to Bossa Nova Mall, the shopping mall attached to the airport. There is a designated area (Uber Lounge) offering comfort and safety while you wait, avoiding traffic chaos in the pick-up/drop-off zone. Always follow the app's instructions, as the exact point may vary dynamically based on traffic.

VLT Carioca (Light Rail / Metro Connection)

The VLT (Veículo Leve sobre Trilhos) is a modern and safe light rail system connecting the airport with the city center, the bus terminal, and the Metro system.

Lines and Connections:
Line 1 (Blue) connects the airport with the Rodoviária (Bus Terminal), passing through the port area and museums.
Metro Connection: To take the subway (MetrôRio), you must get off at the VLT stations Cinelândia or Carioca. From there, you can connect to Metro lines 1 and 2 towards Copacabana, Ipanema, or the North Zone.

Hours: Operates daily from 6:00 am to 0:00 am (midnight).

Payment and Fares:
Important: Cash is not accepted on board. You must purchase and load a Riocard Mais or Jaé card at the vending machines located at the a

Taxis

At Santos Dumont Airport, taxi service is divided into two distinct categories. The stands are located on the outer curb of the arrivals level, duly marked.

Special Taxis (Radio Taxi):
These are superior category vehicles (usually blue, red, or white) offering fixed pre-set rates by zone (flat rate).
How to hire: You must go to the cooperative counters located in the arrivals hall, before going outside. There you pay for the trip in advance (card or cash) and are assigned a vehicle. It is the safest option for tourists to avoid overcharging.
Official operators: Cootramo, Transcoopass, Coopatur, Transcootur, AerosDumont.

Common Taxis (Amarelinhos):
These are the traditional yellow taxis of Rio de Janeiro. They operate exclusively on a meter. The official line is located just outside the terminal. It is recommended to ensure the driver turns on the meter upon starting the trip ("Bandeira 1" during daytime, "Bandeira 2" at night/Sundays).

Accessible Taxis:
The **Cooptáxi** cooperative has vehicles adapted for the transport of people with reduced mobility. It is suggested to request assistance at the cooperative counters upon arrival.

Hours:
The service is available coinciding with the terminal's operating hours (approximately from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm).

Official transport info (Infraero)